25 Sep Ore bunkers are covered

Various measures have now been implemented to prevent further leaching from the piles of unused uranium ore located at Risø.

FFor approximately 40 years, three substantial stockpiles of uranium ore have been situated outdoors at Risø. This ore was originally extracted from Kvanefjeld in Greenland as part of a uranium extraction experiment conducted at Risø Research Centre. The experiment was ultimately discontinued, leaving the 3700 tons of ore as an unutilized resource.

The storage of the ore was carried out according to the standards of the time and in agreement with the regulatory authorities. Since then, requirements for, among other things, emissions have changed, and earlier this year, Roskilde Municipality issued an order to Danish Decommissioning. The ore bunkers must be removed from their current location by December 2022 at the latest, and three months thereafter, the underlying soil must be remediated. Furthermore, various measures must be implemented this year to prevent further leaching of primarily fluoride, lead, and arsenic.

Following the directive, the three piles are now covered with a PE membrane, which is also used at landfills. Drains have been established beneath the piles, and in October, pumps will be installed for groundwater remediation pumping. The drained water is directed to Risø's treatment plant and monitored for fluoride content, among other substances, before discharge into Roskilde Fjord. A monitoring program with groundwater samples from selected boreholes has also been established.

Once a new, upgraded storage facility is ready at Risø, the ore is expected to be moved there.

Read the announced directive from Roskilde Municipality
Read the NIRAS memo on environmental engineering investigations of soil and groundwater at the ore piles
Read the DD memo on radon seepage from the ore